Structural II 10

[civilstructuralNDE]

I am waiting for the Structural I PE exam result taken this April, 2007.
I would like to know about the Structural II. What would be the benefit if I had structural II additionally?

Can I get more opportunity to get a job or a higher salary?

Thank you in advance.

 

[271828]

If you pass the Strl II, you can be a SE. Some states require this and it just looks good on your resume.

 

[COEngineeer]

I am still loss with all this PE thing, I just took the civil PE with structural in the afternoon, will I be able to stamp residential structural drawing with that in CO? What is Structural I? Which one is better, structural one or civil PE? I asked everyone and they told me to take the civil PE. I think I am going to pass it, I had a good feeling (or maybe that is a bad sign).

 

[Lion06]

COEngineer-
I am quite far from taking the PE, but I am always looking to improve my chances. Did you make sheets for design procedures or just tab your codes? For example, for a concrete beam would you have a sheet showing minimum reinforcing limits, minimum shear reinforcing limits and spacings, table for h/l to neglect deflection calcs, etc... or did you just tab your ACI code well and quickly go wherever you needed?
Are there a lot of complete design questions or more looking things up in the code?
Do you know why people told you to take the Civil? Did that come from people you work with? Do you do any civil work or just structural? I don't do anything but structural and can't imagine I would take the Civil PE, but hey, you never know.
Also, I know you were sort of up in the air about whether you would be allowed to take the test or not. Did you have a full 4 years after graduation or was it slightly less?
I took the FE in April, graduated in May (so the FE didn't kick in until May), but I would love to take the PE in April of 2010. I hope the 4 weeks between the FE and graduation isn't a big deal.

 

[COEngineeer]

I already had my 4 years when I registered. Even my technician expereence counted as long as you do it after you got your BS. Unlike you, I was not fortunate enough to get a design job after graduation. I did get engineering job but my tasks were technician tasks. I think they will reject you if you dont have 4 years when you register (even if you have 4 years when you take the exam). You can pass FE whenever. I passed mine 1 year before I graduated. You can even pass it a year before taking the PE.

As far as afternoon session goes (structural), make sure you know different methods to calculate deflections (virtual work, conjugate beam, moment distribution, table look up etc.), there were a lot of that. As far as the code, there were a lot of questions from AASHTO bridge loading. You only need to know the loading (chapter 3 AASHTO LFD, not LRFD, this may change in 2010). You dont have to design anything. If you do have to design something, it is probably something simple. Anyway, I think where I am I do not need SE I and SE II to design houses. Maybe if I move to California or Utah, I think they license structural engineers separately from PE. Here is a quote from the PE test website:

If you are pursuing a professional license, you must pass one or more of the Principles and Practice examinations:

• Engineering licensure candidates: take a Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam and any required state-specific exam(s). PE exam disciplines are listed below.


• In jurisdictions that license structural engineers SEPARATELY from professional engineers, structural engineering licensure candidates must take one or more of the following exams: PE Civil, PE Structural I, PE Structural II, and/or any required state-specific exam(s).

 

[CJJS]

COEngineer,
It depends on your state. Check with your state licensure board. If a PE licence is all that is required in your state, then the Civil PE is adequate. The Structural I is the first of two exams that allows you to get an SE (Structural Engineering license). If you intend on getting the SE it is recommended that you take the Structural I instead of the Civil PE. Some states require an SE for structural design. Illinois I believe is one state that requires this. California also requires it for certain designs of high importance.

 

[swivel63]

structural 1 is the PE exam that is structural morning and afternoon. i heard civil PE is easier than structural 1. plus the pass rates for first timers is higher i believe.

anyhow, damn.....georgia is giving me the run around on how to apply for the structural 2 for next april.

 

[Lion06]

I think CO may be different than PA. I will double check, but I am pretty sure I need (4) years of experience after passing the FE. Any experience before that won't count. I was working part time for a pre-caster while in school, so maybe I can get that to count.
I have to go check the website about that nuance now.

 

[IceNine]

My experience leading up to the exam (Structural I) was in designing low rise commercial builings. I had a lot of experience with steel, wood, masonry, and concrete, and did many cantilevered retaining walls. And no bridge work. I feel that my work experience prepared me very well for the SE I exam. I spent a minimal amount of time studying and passed the first time.

My recommendation to you, StructuralEIT, is to try to get a wide variety of experience designing with all materials, and take the SE I. In my opinion, it will be easier than studying all the civil stuff you probably have no experience with.

As for the bridge stuff, the questions are pretty straight forward. I didn't spend any time studying it, I just brought a copy of the AASHTO code and the Structural Engineering Reference Manual, saved the bridge questions for last, and looked them up.

Ice

 

[Lion06]

Icenine-
Thanks! The advice is much appreciated!!

 

[COEngineeer]

I only made copies of chapter 3 Loading from AASHTO because the AASHTO code I borrowed was in really bad shape and there we a lot of loose paper in the 3 ring binder. You are not suppose to bring ANY loose material into the exam room. So I just made copies of chapter 3 and thank God that was all I need. CJSchwartz, I guess I should have taken the Structural 1. I was still confused even after I read the website. I was afraid Structural 1 is not really a PE and it is only part of Structural 2. So do I have to pass Structural 1 before Structural 2? Or can I take structural 2 with Civil PE? I guess I better prepare for worse and try to take structural 2 in a few years just in case Colorado requires SE for residential and light commercial buildings. I guess I should start saying "I am a civil engineer" instead of a structural engineer when people ask me what I do .

 

[271828]

IceNine is right. If your experience is well-rounded enough and you spend some time studying, you should pass the Strl I exam.

FWIW, I didn't have any trouble with the Strl I and I just took my reference material in with me without additional summary or crib sheets. Those have great value, though, mainly because writing the stuff down gets it in your head better, LOL--seriously. As for finding stuff during the test, I had no issue with that. If you know where things are in your manuals and books, you'll be fine in that regard.

I've known quite a few strictly strl people who took the civil PE exam, which is baffling to me. Who wants to go study all that worthless (to us) non-strl CE stuff? Studying the subjects for the Strl I makes you a better structural engineer. Knowing how to use Bernoulli's Equation makes you better at using Bernoulli's Equation.

 

[CJJS]

COEngineer,
I guess we should all call ourselves civil engineers instead of structural engineers if we don't have an SE (don't want to make those SE's mad... Haha). I took the SE1 about 4 years ago but will probably not take the SE2 unless my state changes their requirements or our company starts doing work in states that require SE's. In my state, the SE1 and SE2 are both required to get an SE license. I'm not sure if that is like that in all states. Check with your state board on that.

 

[IceNine]

My state doesn't offer an SE license, so I probably won't take the SE2 (It's a much more expensive exam, and I hear it's about to go up in price again).

I don't like to call myself a Civil Engineer, because I know very little about all of the sub disciplines other than structural.

 

[Lion06]

I call myself a structural engineer to anyone who asks and I am only an "engineering intern"!! After all, that is what I do.

 

[CJJS]

Actually, there was a whole thread on whether or not you can call yourself a Structural Engineer or not. I can't remember what the consensus was, but I believe as long as your state doesn't require SE, you could call yourself a structural engineer. Just can't sign with SE behind your name.

 

[271828]

IceNine, I'd recommend taking the Strl II anyway. You might want to be responsible for jobs in Illinois, etc., someday. It won't get any easier to find time to take the exam later. I actually waited about 3 years between the Strl I and Strl II and regretted it big time.

Does your employer not pay for it?

If you work in design, I personally don't see a reason to study for it. If it's like it was in about 2001 (2002? can't remember) when I took it, it was more of a crapshoot than anything else: Get something you've done before and you pass. Otherwise, pack your stuff up and enjoy the rest of the day! It might be different now, though.

As for CE vs Strl, you guys sound like me. I don't identify AT ALL with the rest of CE. We are A LOT closer cousins to ESM folks than the rest of CE. We're probably about as close a cousins to MEs as the rest of CE for that matter.

 

[swivel63]

i know i got a almost all of my intern experience to count. i hit the 3 year mark by like 3 hours.

 

[swivel63]

you have to take the S-1 before taking the S-2. i'mma take it for no other reason than just to get the SE behind my name. even if i'll never need it.

 

[271828]

StrlEIT typed: "I call myself a structural engineer to anyone who asks and I am only an "engineering intern"!! After all, that is what I do."

That's perfectly fine, IMO. After all, you didn't call yourself a "licensed" structural engineer.

The only time I am careful about this is when I'm writing something official in a state that doesn't have a SE license. For example, in TN, I'd probably put PE after my name instead, if I think any of the potential readers would care.